Surgery is not recommended for the treatment of cholangitis. Initial management in patients can be conserved through proper antibiotics, as the majority of them can resolve symptoms.

Surgical options for cholangitis are not preferred for treatment.^[1]

• Only when sepsis progresses does biliary drainage become necessary.

Initial management of all patients includes:^[2]

• Intravenous fluid resuscitation and antibiotics
• Invasive monitoring
• Intensive care
• Inotropic and ventilation support

If attempts at an endoscopic papillotomy or percutaneous transhepatic drainage of the common bile duct are unsuccessful, surgical exploration should be carried out to control sepsis.^[3] Clinical studies show that emergency surgery for patients suffering from acute cholangitis results in improved postoperative morbidity and mortality rates.^[1]